Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) is a feminist organisation working to improve political and social norms on women’s and girls’ rights in Nigeria. Through their AmplifyChange work, they engaged and empowered female sex workers to understand their SRHR and legal rights.
Through close collaboration with the Nigerian Sex Workers Association, VSI conducted multiple advocacy capacity building sessions reaching over 120 sex workers across the six geopolitical zpmes in Southern and Northern Nigeria. The sessions increased their understanding of key legislation relating to SRHR, sex work and other human rights issues. While focused on skills building, the sessions also provided a safe space for participants to share their experiences and learn from each other.
Together, VSI and the session participants created an advocacy handbook for the participants to use in further advocacy work. The advocacy toolkit has advocacy points for lawmakers, religious and traditional rulers, funders and others who provide technical support to sex workers, health care providers, and brothel owners, among other stakeholders.
VSI also published a handbook titled: Until We All Count: Law and livelihood of sex workers in Nigeria. This handbook offers information on how other agencies, including civil society organisations, can become more inclusive in rights protection. You can access this resource here.
